Tear-Open, Reclosable Package

Abstract

A tamper-evident package utilizes a transparent resealable adhesive structure such as a tape or a label to cover the closure opening. Upon a first opening of the package frangible portions of the package front between adjacent disconnected arcuate cuts are torn. This results in a package which is visually tamper-evident after a first opening. A series of disconnected arcuate cuts comprising an apex and two free ends are arranged in laterally extending opposing top and bottom rows. In one case the cuts have portions of their distal free ends which overlap vertically and are parallel and aligned with the longitudinal axis of the package. The cuts are preferably centered laterally and are flanked on the right and left sides by two continuous wavy slits. One row of the cuts can comprise cup shaped cuts with a flat linear portion of each cut lying along its apex.

Claims

1. A package, comprising; a package having a front, a back, and top and bottom edges defining upward and downward longitudinal directions, said package also having opposing left and right side edges defining a lateral direction; and a tear-open closure having open and closed positions located along a lateral closure axis for providing access to contents within the package through an opening, said closure comprising two laterally extending longitudinally spaced top and bottom rows of individual disconnected arcuate cuts, each cut defining a continuous arc with an apex and two free ends.

2. The package of claim 1 wherein a facing direction of each of said cuts is defined by the pointing direction of its apex and wherein the cuts of one row all face in one vertical direction opposite the facing direction of all the cuts of the other row, said rows being laterally staggered thereby defining a series of laterally extending alternating upward pointing and then downward pointing disconnected cuts.

3. The package of claim 2 wherein the ends of laterally adjacent cuts overlap.

4. The package of claim 2 wherein the ends of the cuts intercept the lateral closure axis.

5. The package of claim 1 wherein the closure is covered by a resealable transparent adhesive structure that holds the closure in the closed position.

6. The package of claim 1 having manually frangible portions of the package front located between adjacent cuts which rupture when the package is first opened.

7. The package of claim 4 wherein a prior opening of the package closure is evident after it is closed and resealed by the adhesive structure.

8. The package of claim 6 wherein the series of cuts are centered between opposite sides of the package.

9. The package of claim 7 wherein a central longitudinally extending tab portion of the adhesive structure is adhesively deadened to facilitate its manual grasping by a user.

10. The package of claim 1 wherein the closure further includes wavy slits through the package front on either lateral side of the series of arcuate cuts.

11. The package of claim 9 wherein the adhesive structure is located across the package front, wraps around the sides of the package, and is adhered to a back side.

12. The package of claim 10 further having graphics printed on the package front in the area of the series of arcuate cuts to enhance the visual evidence of a prior closure opening.

13. The package of claim 1 wherein the bottom row of disconnected cuts is cup shaped, each cut having a flat linear portion lying along its apex.

14. The package of claim 12 wherein the free ends of the top row of disconnected cuts extends vertically below the free ends of the bottom row of disconnected cuts.

15. The package of claim 14 wherein the portions of the free ends of the top row of disconnected cuts are parallel to portions of the free ends of the bottom row of disconnected cuts.

16. The package of claim 15 wherein the two side-most ends of adjacent top row cuts are not free but bridged by interconnecting horizontal sections.

17. The package of claim 16 wherein the horizontal sections are substantially in line with the flat linear portions of the cup shaped cuts of the bottom row of disconnected cuts.

18. The package of claim 5 wherein the adhesive structure is either a tape or a label comprised of: a. a polymeric backing; and b. a pressure sensitive adhesive on either side of the polymeric backing.

19. The package of claim 18 wherein the adhesive structure is adapted to function equally well with either moist or dry package contents.

20. A package, comprising: a tear-open closure having open and closed positions for providing access to contents within the package through an opening, said closure comprising two laterally extending longitudinally spaced top and bottom rows of individual disconnected arcuate cuts, each cut defining a continuous arc with an apex and two free ends, wherein one of the rows of disconnected cuts comprises cup shaped cuts each with a flat linear portion lying along its apex.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIGS. 1 and 2 are top right front isometric views of prior art packaging.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a top right front view of a preconstruction layout of one embodiment of the invention.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a close-up view of the tear-open cut pattern.

[0022] FIGS. 5 and 6 are top right front isometric views showing a package of the invention before and after the first package opening.

[0023] FIGS. 7 and 8 are right side sectional views of the package of the invention in the closed and open positions respectively.

[0024] FIGS. 9 and 10 depict alternate tear-open cut patterns.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0025] Referring now to FIG. 3, a pre-construction layout of the elements of one embodiment of the invention is shown. Film 31 has a piece of transparent pressure sensitive adhesive reseal structure 33 affixed across it. The adhesive structure includes a pull tab 35 projects upward from the main body of the pressure sensitive reclosure feature. The adhesive on the backside of the pull tab 35 is deadened so that it may be easily grasped by the user. The pressure sensitive adhesive reseal structure 33 extends laterally beyond fold lines 36 which define the sides of the package when constructed so that end portions 34 of the adhesive reseal structure 33 wrap around the sides of the package and the side of the structure which is coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive attach to the back when fully formed for stronger attachment. The structure may be a label or a tape composed of a polymeric backing and a pressure sensitive adhesive on either side of the backing.

[0026] Beneath the adhesive reseal structure in the center of the film between the side fold lines a series of slits and cuts define a package opening through which contents of the package can be removed. The closure comprises right and left side wavy slits 37 and a series of arcuate cuts in the center. For reasons later described, the film preferably has a printed-on graphic such as the word OPEN in the area of the arcuate cuts seen in this figure.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 4, the pattern of the series of arcuate cuts is shown. The cuts comprise a laterally extending series of longitudinally spaced apart opposite facing individual identical arcuate cuts in two rows. Here we see that each arcuate cut is defined by an apex 43 and two free ends 45. The adjacent cuts alternate in upward and then downward pointing directions of their respective apexes along a vertical axis. One exemplary axis is shown as A-A. The cuts are substantially identical and are geometrically symmetrical about their axis.

[0028] Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, we see depictions of the package of FIG. 3 before-and-after it is first opened. When first opened, the user pulls tab 35 tearing the package material 51 apart between the central arcuate cuts. The attachment of the adhesive structure such as a tape or a label is strengthen by portions 34 which wrap around the backsides of the package. The other side portions of the package front are non-destructively separated along the continuous wavy slits 37 on either side of the arcuate cut series. This provides the opening in the package as seen in FIG. 8 necessary to access its contents. In FIG. 6 we see the package reclosed and resealed. Here, the torn apart package material around and through the printed word OPEN distorts its depiction so that the prior package opening is visibly evident through the transparent adhesive structure. Because only a small portion of the opening needs to be forcibly torn, only a relatively small force is needed. This, in combination with the novel shape of the cuts, permits the desirable use of a lighter gage film material and a package that is easier to open.

[0029] The opening process is further depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8. As seen in FIG. 7 the constructed package forms front and rear panels 75 and 76. Pull tab 35 has deadening material 71 applied to its back surface to allow manual grasping. The main body of the adhesive structure 33 covers the various opening slits and cuts shown here as cut 73. Side portions 34 of the structure 33 wrap around and are adhered to the back of the package 76. As the tab is grasped and pulled downward the adhesive structure starts to peal from the front panel 75. When the separation point of the peal crosses the above described series of arcuate cuts the adherence of the tape or pressure sensitive label to the panel just below the cuts is sufficient to tear the panel material between the cuts to create a package opening through which its contents can be removed. FIG. 8 shows the package of FIGS. 3-7 in its open condition. Here we see the material of the package front panel 75 destructively torn apart at the mouth of the opening.

[0030] FIGS. 9 and 10 depict alternate tear-open cut patterns located in the same placement as FIG. 304, that is, centered about the package front centerline. Like the pattern of FIG. 4 these patterns are at the central tear portion between wavy cuts on either side that extend to the sides of the package.

[0031] In FIG. 9, the two opposing rows of disconnected cuts 81 and 83 are not identical and the free ends of the top row extend into the wells of a cup-shaped bottom row cuts. As seen in the close-up view associated with FIG. 9, the free ends 87 of the top row cuts 81 extend vertically below the upstanding free ends 85 of the bottom row cuts 83 as illustrated by imaginary horizontal line D-D. Furthermore, the bottom row of cuts each have a flat linear portion 82 lying along their apex. While this Figure depicts three tear cuts along the top row and four cuts along the bottom row the invention may include a greater or lesser number of cuts similarly arranged. Furthermore the top and bottom rows may be interchanged in position.

[0032] Referring now to FIG. 10, this cut pattern is identical to that seen in FIG. 9 except that the ends of the two side-most cuts are not free. They extend downward to the lowest point of the bottom row, bridged by interconnecting horizontal sections 91 and 93. The horizontal portions are therefore substantially in line with the flat linear portions 82 of the cup shaped bottom row of disconnected cuts.

[0033] From the above description of the invention it can readily be seen that the objects of the invention have been achieved. While only one embodiment of the invention is depicted in the drawings and described above there can be variations in dimension and proportionality. Furthermore the means of production can be any suitable means available to the art at that time. Many modifications to the preferred embodiment may be possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention which shall be defined only by the following claims and their legal equivalents.